Extracurricular!

NEW YORK—For the past few weeks, I’ve been writing predominantly about “Allegiance” with a focus on what goes on behind the scenes. Lately, I’ve written about the process of previews (Week 3 has just begun with rehearsals for changes in the afternoon and performances implementing said changes that same night). However, that doesn’t mean that we’ve not had the time for a few extracurricular activities.

Over the course of my stay in New York, I’ve been able to sneak in a few fun things to do.

Elsie Fest

Darren Criss (most popularly known as Warbler Blaine in the hit series “Glee,” and most recently played the title character in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway) was the commander in chief of the first annual Elsie Fest held last Sept. 27 at Pier 37 in Manhattan.

Musical theater mainstays Aaron Tveit, Laura Osnes, Seth Rudetsky, Leslie Odom Jr., Team Starkid, yours truly and Darren performed in an outdoor festival, which has been likened to, “Coachella, but for musical theater.”

I opened the day’s festivities with a six-song set which included a selection of my most often performed material, like “I’d Give My Life for You,” “I Dreamed a Dream”/“On My Own,” “Reflection,” “Higher,” and “Still Hurting.”

Darren and myself performing “A Whole New World” completed the set. He and I have sung this song a couple of times before—once for an Alan Menken tribute in Los Angeles and another at Marie’s Crisis, a musical theater piano bar in the West Village, New York City—so getting to sing the song with him again was very special. The festival went right into the night, ending with, of course, Darren.

An ‘Aladdin’ Reunion

Speaking of “A Whole New World,” on Oct. 9, the cast of “Aladdin” came together on the TV show “Good Morning America” to announce the release of  “Aladdin Diamond Edition Blu-ray DVD,” which now contains previously unreleased video of the late comedian Robin Williams’ recording sessions for the movie.

If you think whatever made it to the final movie was funny, then prepare to laugh plenty with the snippets that didn’t make it.

For the GMA appearance, composer Alan Menken, directors Ron Clements and John Musker, actors Scott Weinger (Aladdin, speaking voice), Linda Larkin (Jasmine, speaking voice), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Brad Kane (Aladdin, singing voice) and myself (Jasmine, singing voice) sat down for a brief interview with host George Stephanopoulos.

Beforehand, in the shared dressing room, we were all able to catch up with one another (Brad and Scott are now TV writers, while Jonathan is playing Jafar in the Broadway production of “Aladdin”).

About an hour after the interview, Brad and I, accompanied by Alan on the piano, reprised “A Whole New World” for the audience in the studio. It was the first time since performing the song at the Oscars in 1993 that we got together to sing it. And, allow me to say, we sounded the same! It was really lovely too that Ron, John, Scott, Linda and Jonathan were able to stay and watch.

Vanity Fair

Consider this bonus content…

The “Allegiance” Facebook page came out with the photo of George Takei, Telly Leung and myself posing for Vanity Fair. The three of us are all glammed up in Malan Breton fashions (suits for the gents and a gown for me), styled by George Brescia, posed on a set created by Mitch Dean and photographed by Luke Fontana. My glam team was composed of Luca Blandi for hair and Seevon Chou for makeup.

The session took place in June alongside more press activities organized by our “Allegiance” production and marketing team. I have to say, getting to pose for a portrait with two of my favorite people is always fun.